val was a spoiled child, but I
didn't think he was a coward. I wonder if I seem as different to father?
If I do I don't wonder that he prefers Adele."

And with this Bee laid down upon the bed, and through sheer exhaustion
fell asleep.

Chapter XXI

How the Day Ended

"Within the garden's peaceful scene
Appeared two lovely foes,
Aspiring to the rank of queen,
The Lily and the Rose."

--_Cowper._

Bee was awakened by Aunt Fanny bringing in her dinner. The sun had set
and the cool sweetness of the evening gave relief from the heat of the
day. All the events of the afternoon seemed unreal and dreamlike in
spite of her aching eyes. She arose and began to bathe them, with a
strange feeling of insensibility as though nothing could ever make her
cry again.

"Now, honey, I jest ain't a-gwine ter take dat dinnah back," remarked
the negress determinedly, seating herself as Bee motioned her to take
the food away. "Dere ain't no use mopin' erroun' like you-all is doin'.
Yer pa fixed hit him own se'f, an' I ain't gwine ter take hit back."

"Did you say that father fixed it?" asked the girl with quick interest.

"'Deed he did, Miss Bee. He done poured de tea, an' put two lumps of
sugah in de saucah jest like you does fer de world. Den he fixed de
thing on de tray, an' he say, 'Take dat to Miss Beatrice,' he say.
'Co'se I done hit; an' heah I is, an' heah I stays 'twel you eats hit."

"If father fixed it, I will eat it," said Bee. "You are not joking about
it, Aunt Fanny? You are sure that he did it, and not Adele?"

"Now, Miss Bee, yer knows dat Miss Adele ain't a-gwine ter bodder her
haid 'bout udder folks; specially ef dey ain't erroun'," returned Aunt
Fanny scornfully, with whom Adele was no favorite. "No'm; she too busy
wid sayin': 'How does ye like yer coffee, uncle deah? Am hit sweet 'nuff
fer ye?' Jest like buttah wouldn't melt in her mouf. No'm; Miss Adele
ain't a-bodderin' 'bout you all. Ner enny body elsen but her own se'f."

"I don't know about that," demurred Bee, wishing to be just to her
cousin. "She certainly looks after old Rachel. I don't believe that she
has missed a day going down there for the past three weeks. We must give
her credit for that, Aunt Fanny."

"Huh!" snorted Aunt Fanny. "I reckon yer doesn't know ebberthing, Miss
Bee."

"What do you mean?" questioned Bee, pausing in the act of taking a bite
of bread.

"Nebber you min' what I means," returned the o